Taking a look at the sales from this past weekend’s
Bonhams &
Butterfields auction, one would never be able to tell that we are currently in a financial crisis throughout the world. For example, a 1970 Gulf-JWA
Le Mans 917K Coupe was sold for a record amount of $3,965,000.
The auction consisted of an astounding 102 cars as well as one airplane and one boat from the three collections of Michael Amalfitano. Out of the 104 pieces up for sale, 74% of them were sold during the auction which was a much better percentage than originally expected from the auctioneers. In total, the Bonhams & Butterfields auction raised a total of $18.6 million of which about $4 million was attributed to the
Porsche 917.
"We are very honored to have been selected to offer these incredible motorcars at auction," says Mark Osborne, head of Bonhams’ Motoring Department. "We are very pleased with the results and the satisfaction of having met or exceeded the expectations of our discerning and growing clientele."
Two-day event makes a world record for Porsche and posts $18.6 million in sales.
Bonhams & Butterfields celebrated the thirteenth anniversary of its renowned motorcar auction at the sunny Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley with resounding success.
Comprising a very diverse and newsworthy selection of 102 cars, 1 airplane and 1 boat – of which 77 sold (a 74% sell rate), the auction represented three major collections headlined by the Michael Amalfitano collection of competition cars, which blew through all pre-sale expectations and set the tone for a buoyant two-day sale.
A world record for any Porsche sold at auction was achieved with the ex-Jurgen Neuhaus/Jurgen Barth 1972-73 European Interserie and David Hobbs/Mike Hailwood Gulf-JW Automotive team 1972-73 Porsche 917 Interserie Spyder neé 1970 Gulf-JWA Le Mans 917K Coupe realizing $3,965,000.
Many other strong prices were attained for the rarest and freshest offerings, which included:
- The exceedingly rare 1930 Mercedes-Benz 7.1 Liter SS Tourer that made $2,537,000 after spirited bidding.
- The ex-works, Gerhard Mitter/Lucien Bianchi Nurburgring 1000 kms-leading 1967 Porsche 910 Endurance Racing Works Coupe that sold for $797,000.
- The ex- J. Herbert Carpenter, Western Reserve Historical Society, Joe Tracy 1908 Thomas Flyer 4-60 Tourer that went for $733,000.
- The ex-Ernst Loof racing team, Sandizell-owned 1937 BMW 328 Roadster that was bought for $667,000.
Furthermore, automobilia and spares posted the highest ever total at this venue with $1.185 million realized.
"We are very honored to have been selected to offer these incredible motorcars at auction," says Mark Osborne, head of Bonhams’ Motoring Department. "We are very pleased with the results and the satisfaction of having met or exceeded the expectations of our discerning and growing clientele."
Bonhams’ annual sale at Quail Lodge – the longest running auction during the most famous collector
car
week in the world – has demonstrated yet again why the 217-year-old auction house is a leader in the international domain of
automobiles
and a cornerstone of the Monterey Peninsula Car Week.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/1970-porsche-gulf-jwa-le-mans-sold-for-nearly-4-million-ar95096.html
Image by Moto@Club4AG via Flickr
